A/HRC/27/23 be possible to obtain sufficient reliable information to confirm the number of executions and other relevant details. 25. Furthermore, information regarding the actual date of executions is reportedly withheld from family members and lawyers of death row prisoners until the completion of the executions in some States, including Belarus, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, South Sudan and Viet Nam. The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus expressed concern about the circumstances of the execution of a death row prisoner in April 2014. Reportedly, the date of his execution was not known to his family members and lawyers, who only learned about it after the sentence had already been carried out. The Special Rapporteur noted that the way the death penalty was carried out in that case amounted to inhuman treatment.18 During the universal periodic review process of the Human Rights Council, Botswana accepted the recommendation to provide information to concerned families, so that they know in advance the date of execution of their relatives (A/HRC/23/7 and Corr.1, para. 115.60). IV. Imposition of the death penalty 26. During the reporting period, executions were carried out in at least 22 States. Some States resumed executions19 after a few years’ suspension. In his report to the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/25/26) on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Secretary-General expressed his concern at the sharp rise in executions in that country. He noted that the new Government continued the previous administrations’ heavy reliance on the death penalty to combat crimes (see also A/HRC/23/47/Add.5). A significant increase in the number of executions was also reported in Iraq for individuals convicted under the Anti-Terrorism Law.20 The United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights have repeatedly and publicly reported that the international safeguards protecting the rights of those facing the death penalty are not implemented in the country.21 27. Despite its recent amendments to criminal laws and procedures, aimed at restricting the application of the death penalty, China, according to some sources, has continued to execute thousands of individuals annually.22 18 19 20 21 22 Press release, “Halt further executions – UN expert calls on Belarus for an immediate death sentence moratorium”, 25 April 2014. Available from www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=14537&LangID=E. Belarus, Equatorial Guinea, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nigeria, United Arab Emirates and Viet Nam. Act No. 13/2005, art. 4. OHCHR/United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq Human Rights Office, “Report on Human Rights in Iraq: July-December 2012”, June 2013, pp. 8–10 and 12–15; “Report on Human Rights in Iraq: January-June 2013”, August 2013, pp. 6–7. Amnesty International, “Death Sentences and Executions 2013” (AI Index: ACT 50/001/2014) , p. 19. See also Hands Off Cain, “Death Penalty Worldwide 2014 Report”, Rome, March 2014 (draft submitted to the Secretariat as contribution for the current report). 7